• Tap to talk. You tap a fingerprint sensor in the corner and start chatting to the AI out loud.
• Cue an on-screen character. A small animated avatar represents Muse, and you can change its look and voice.
• Its own internet connection. It has built-in 5G, so it works anywhere, not just at home on Wi-Fi.
• Cameras. Most reports say it has front and rear cameras so Muse can see what’s around you. Meta hasn’t published full specs yet.
• It can do things for you. The Muse app can already buy products, book tickets and send emails, and the Charm can reportedly do the same.

Meta is planning to release it in December. No price has been announced yet.

Why Children Might Want One

Let’s be honest. This device looks like a toy. And that’s exactly why I think it could end up on a lot of Christmas lists.

• It taps into a trend they already love. Bag charms and Labubu-style plushies are everywhere right now. Some young people are even turning old Apple Watches into keychain charms, fuelled by TikTok posts.
• The characters are designed to be adorable. Avatars include a mascot called “Jolly”, a cartoon mango, a labradoodle and a piece of toast wearing sunglasses.
• It feels like a friend, not a phone. Young people are already more likely to see AI chatbots as companions rather than assistants. A cute character you carry everywhere could make that feeling even stronger.

So even though it isn’t meant for them, children will see it, many will want it, and some parents will even purchase it for their children.

The Risks Parents Should Be Aware Of

Emotional attachment. The first Tamagotchi responded to a few button presses. The Muse Charm holds full-voice conversations, remembers things about its owner, and can respond in ways that seem caring. For a child, that can start to feel like a real friendship.

Cameras and microphones. A device that can see and hear what’s around your child raises big privacy questions. What is being recorded? Where does it go? And what about the friends, siblings and others who never agreed to be captured?

It can take action, not just chat. Because Muse can shop, book and send messages, a child with access to a linked account could do more than just talk.

Always on hand. With its own 5G connection, there’s no need for home Wi-Fi. That means it goes wherever your child goes, including bedrooms at night.

Meta’s track record with young people. Meta recently had to make changes to Instagram and WhatsApp following a major trial over the impact of social media on teens. That’s worth keeping in mind when a new Meta device lands that looks this appealing to children.

What Does Meta Say?

Meta is clear that the Muse Charm is for adults only. Muse, the AI behind it, is restricted to users aged 18 and over.
According to Meta, everyone using Muse must provide their date of birth; anyone it flags as possibly under 18 is blocked, and it conducts additional checks on those who say they’re adults.

That’s good to hear. But as we’ve seen with so many other platforms, age limits are only as strong as how well they’re enforced, and that part is still unclear. A device bought by a parent, gifted by a relative or handed down by an older sibling can easily end up in younger hands; we’ve seen this with Smartphones.

What Can Parents Do Before December?

1. Start the conversation early. Ask your child what they know about AI chatbots. Do they use any? What do they like about them? Keep it curious, not antagonistic.
2. Talk about what AI actually is. Help them understand that however friendly it sounds, an AI companion isn’t a real friend. It doesn’t have feelings, and it’s built by a company that wants people to keep using it.
3. Have a chat with family members. Grandparents, aunts and uncles may see a cute gadget and think it’s the perfect stocking filler. A quick heads-up now can save a tricky conversation on Christmas morning.
4. Protect your payment details. Keep bank cards and payment methods off any account a child could access.
5. Think with respect to privacy. If one of these devices does come into your home, find out where the cameras are, when they’re active and what’s being stored.
6. Keep devices out of bedrooms at night. It’s a simple rule that works for phones, tablets and AI gadgets alike.

Final Thoughts

AI isn’t going away, and our children are growing up with it all around them. The Muse Charm is just the latest example of technology being designed to seem less like a gadget and more like a companion.

The good news? You don’t have to be a tech expert to keep your child safe. Being curious, keeping the conversation open and knowing what’s coming puts you in a really strong position.

I’ll keep a close eye on the Muse Charm as more details come out ahead of its release, and I’ll update you as soon as I know more.

If you found this useful, please share it with another parent who needs to see it.

I offer one-to-one sessions for parents covering online safety, parental controls, and everything in between.

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Wayne